Children & Families - Working for Essex
We give you time to reflect

Welcome to Children & Families

“We know that social work is a demanding, complex but fulfilling role. We understand the importance of equipping you with the tools to build meaningful relationships and make lasting changes to those we work with and who need us most. Our services are diverse, and we have interesting and stimulating opportunities for everyone, as well a real mix of career pathways you can explore with us here at Essex County Council (ECC).

We support our social worker colleagues to deliver fantastic social work through our comprehensive learning and development offer, delivered by our award-winning Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA). We also champion social worker wellbeing and have recently been able to implement a 9-day working fortnight for our frontline childrens social workers.

I am incredibly proud of the work of our social care teams and the recognition received for our childrens services achievements at ECC. External recognition has included winning the national Social Worker of the Year Award in 2014 and 2016 and Best Social Worker Employer at the 2018 Social Worker of the Year Awards.

In June 23, our Children & Families teams and Youth Offending Service were awarded ‘outstanding’ in all categories by Ofsted. This was the 2nd inspection in a row Essex Children Services received ‘Outstanding’

If this kind of environment resonates with you and you enjoy making a difference, we’d be delighted to receive your application.

Essex is a great place to work. It is the perfect time to joins us and we would love to see you join us and be part of our Essex team.

Good luck and best wishes.”

Helen Lincoln, Executive Director, Children and Families

Serious about social work

Diverse, passionately committed and Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’, Essex County Council’s Children & Families team offers careers few can match for impact and variety.

We’re outstanding!

In 2023 our Children and Families Social Care function was accredited by OFSTED as ‘outstanding’ in every single category.


What does it take?

There’s no magic to it. Just hope and heart, and a lot of hard work. Watch this video to understand what it takes to join us here at Essex in Children & Families.


Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA)

The ESCA is dedicated to our social work colleagues across the organisation. We’re passionate about all aspects of CPD in social care, investing in a holistic approach to learning, development and impact in the county’s social care services

ESCA’s vision is: Excellence, Innovation, Support and Delivery.

ESCA will lead the way being a nationally recognised social care academy delivering excellent, innovative professional development opportunities.

We will strengthen the stability, expertise and confidence of our workforce to equip them with skills and tools to support the needs of the diverse Essex community.

We’ve won multiple awards at a national level. ESCA is recognised as truly innovative and ahead of the curve.


Did you know?

We offer up to an £8,000 relocation package, subject to terms and conditions.

We are also proud to have been recognised as Social Work Employer of the year 2021!


Janine
Service Manager, Family Support & Protection
Apply for your next career in Children & Families today